ESPN Tennis

VIENNA, Austria -- Juan Carlos Ferrero, once ranked No. 1 but now No. 44, beat fourth-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 6-4, 7-6 (4) Monday in the opening round of the BA Tennis Trophy.

Ferrero played from the baseline and held serve throughout. He conceded just four points on his serve in the second set. The 14th-ranked Karlovic hit 17 aces but was broken early in the opening set -- the only break of the match.

Ferrero won the first set after the umpire overruled a line call on a forehand from Karlovic. The Spaniard closed out the victory on his first match point in the tiebreaker when Karlovic netted a return.

In other matches, fifth-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain defeated Victor Crivoi of Romania 6-4, 6-4; Feliciano Lopez of Spain topped Agustin Calleri of Argentina 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4); and Carlos Moya of Spain downed Michael Berrer of Germany 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6).

Also, Guillermo Canas of Argentina edged Andreas Seppi of Italy 7-6 (2), 6-3 and Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic rallied past Roko Karanusic of Croatia 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press